Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Cuts Stock Holdings in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 312,188 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 4,494 shares during the period. United Rentals comprises about 0.4% of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.48% of United Rentals worth $220,036,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GSA Capital Partners LLP grew its holdings in United Rentals by 54.2% during the 3rd quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 589 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of United Rentals by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 650 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in shares of United Rentals by 8.3% during the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 9,729 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $7,878,000 after purchasing an additional 747 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in United Rentals by 22.3% in the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,092 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $4,123,000 after buying an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Adero Partners LLC acquired a new stake in United Rentals in the third quarter valued at $239,000. 96.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Rentals Price Performance

Shares of URI opened at $620.45 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.98. United Rentals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $585.27 and a fifty-two week high of $896.98. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $700.45 and a 200-day simple moving average of $759.90. The company has a market capitalization of $40.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.76.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a return on equity of 34.21% and a net margin of 16.78%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 12th were given a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.15%. This is a positive change from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

URI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on United Rentals from $940.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $658.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of United Rentals from $1,004.00 to $974.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Baird R W raised shares of United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Argus lifted their price target on shares of United Rentals from $840.00 to $880.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $829.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Rentals

In other news, CFO William E. Grace sold 1,100 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $638.10, for a total value of $701,910.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,880 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,390,128. The trade was a 13.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.53% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

United Rentals Company Profile

United Rentals, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It operates in two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents general construction and industrial equipment includes backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms, such as boom and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment comprising pressure washers, water pumps, and power tools for construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities.